Case studies
Theme: Supply-chain disruptions
Mode: Air Freight
Sector: Automotive, tier manufacturer

- Deplenished VMI inventories in N.America as a result of Covid impact on Asian manufacturing
- Global shortage of sea containers, and vessels delays resulted in further supply-chain interruptions
- Avoid manufacturing interruption

- GKNFS coordinate multiple part numbers from different global suppliers via air freight from Asia and Europe
- Arrangements made for air cargo shipments, in some cases with less than 4 days door to door transit time

- Despite limitations in available cargo space due to Covid, GKNFS successfully procured capacity for a total of 28 air shipments or 151 tons, delivered within transit time requested
- Client was able to maintain uninterrupted production
Theme: Value Engineering
Mode: Road Freight
Sector: Automotive, tier manufacturer

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Client faced rising costs of manufacturing
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GKNFS challenged to provide transport savings for N.American Plant

- Close analysis of all active road-lanes made, reviewing the trailer utilisation of each lane
- A list of potential lanes which could be changed from FTL to LTL, based on trailer utilization
- Client Plant marginally increased buffer stock to cover longer transit time of LTL service

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A total of 9 lanes were adapted to run as LTL
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Annual freight savings of nearly $250k achieved for client
Theme: Value Engineering
Mode: Ocean Freight
Sector: Industrial

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Heavy goods (8t.) being shipped from US>UK
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Maximising ocean container utilization, given road-freight weight constraints (24t)

- GKN implant team identified and negotiated with shipping line to increase to 4 items per ocean container (32t)
- Port of arrival discharges container at POA and holds stock at Port
- Importer arranges call-off of 3 items to conform with max. road laden weights

- Saving of 1 container per 4 shipped, giving 25% ocean freight cost saving
Theme: Supply-chain disruptions
Mode: Ocean Freight
Sector: Automotive, tier manucfacturer

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Covid caused huge delays on the regular West Coast port in the US increasing transit time & costs
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Due to these delays, North American client risked production disruptions

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Team identified alternative East Coast port solutions without increasing transit time & costs
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A number of carrier partners were trialed to ensure a reliable and quality service was available

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The GKNFS team amended the routing, adding a new East Coast destination port
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Delays were minimised
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Transit time reduced overall
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Costs managed